An unexpected inheritance leaves the Optimist with a crumbling and sinister country estate, which includes an equally crumbling and sinister butler named Old Norman (Eric Francis).

 

While the Optimist spends his time trying to learn the ways of the landed gentry, he also needs to avoid the murderous attempts of cousin Rachel (Rosalind Lloyd), who is seriously unhappy she didn’t benefit from the will – and is determined to put it right by filling the river with piranhas as the Optimist fishes, a tarantula in his four-poster and poisoning his breakfast boiled egg. 

ENN REITEL
the Optimist

ROSALIND LLOYD
Cousin Rachel

KEN WALLER
Webster

ERIC FRANCIS
Old Norman

director

ROBERT FUEST

production supervised by

ROBERT SIDAWAY

written by

ROBERT FUEST
ENN REITEL

devised by

RICHARD SPARKS

script associate
ROBERT SIDAWAY

producers

ROBERT SIDAWAY
JOHN BRITTANY

photography

FRANCIS DE GROOTE

art director

MIKE PORTER

edited by

JOHN DANIELS
HILARY MAWDSLEY

music score by

JOHN CAMERON

Optimist theme by

DAVID SPEAR

title music arranged & conducted by
JOHN CAMERON

casting by

ALAN FOENANDER

executive producer

DAVID GIDEON THOMSON

assistant director

STEVE FINN

focus puller

JEREMY BRIGDEN

technical assistant

ASHLEY SIDAWAY

gaffer

JOHN PARSONS

sparks

RON HERSCHMAN

JIM KNIGHT

grip

JOHN LAKE

costume

JO KORER
JOHN HIBBS

continuity

CAROL SNOOK

make-up

MADELEINE MASTERS

production buyer

GWENDA FOORD

standby props

ANDY HAMILTON

location manager

KATHY FISHER

runners

SIOBHAN MULHOLLAND

CHRIS MCWATTERS
STEVEN TYE

production manager

STEWART RICHARDS

production accountant

IRENE JAY

production assistant

SUE TONKINSON

assistant to producers

BEV LANGLEY

dubbing editor

JURIS EKSTS

dubbing mixer
TED RYAN

dialogue coach

CECIL KORER

production publicity

ALAN TREWEEKE

camera and lighting equipment

supplied by

CRYSTAL FILMS ASSOCIATES

laboratories

STUDIO FILM & VIDEO LAB

opticals and titles by

LES LATIMER OPTICALS

end credit stills by

JO KORER
TRISTRAM SHAPEERO

copying machine supplied by

NASHUA

The Optimist Company
for Channel Four
and Charisma Films

filmed on location at
Dorney Court, Windsor
March 1984

our thanks to

Mazda Cars

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